Telephone-exchange system.



E.'E. CLEMENT. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

AIPPFIOATIONITILBD APR.15, 1905. RENEWED APR. 17, 1912.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

E. EI'TOLEMENT. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1905. RENEWED APR. 17, 1912.

I 1,045,515, Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

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a Rs flnventor E. E. CLEMENT. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED. APR.15, 1905. RENEWED APR. 17, 1912.

1,0455 1 5, Patented m. 2 191.2

3 sHEETssHEnT a.

E l /N H zaa Inventor tinrrnn sirirrss rirrnisr cri ic-ii.

EDWARD E. CLEMENT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; ASSIGNOBI TO THE NORTH ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters ltatent.

Patented Nov. 22c. i912.

Application filed April 15, 1905, Serial No. 255,831. Renewed April 17, 1912. Serial No. 691,501. I

a citizen of the United States. residing at ll'ashington. in the District. of Columhiiui have invented certain new and useful lm- 1 provements 1n 'lelephone-lflxcmange Sys-Z toms. of which the following is a speeiticay t-ion. reference being had therein to the amcompanying drawing.

My invention relates to telephone ex change systems, and has for its object the provision of means whereby a large number of subscribers may be served and great economiesbe effected in thecentral otiice equip ment, and particularly in the number of multiple jacks required. In order to attain my end. I provide a divided multiple switchboard, that is, one in which there are several parts or divisions each appropriated to a particular group of lines as regards their multiple jacks, each line appearing upon one division and no more. All the lines terminate at answering-jacks upon an answering switchboard, and from this answering switchboard trunk lines extend to all the multipledivisions, each trunk having a multiple jack for answering purposes at each multiple division, and a signal appropriated to each jack. In each trunk is an automatic selector switch, and all the signals are connected back to said switch which is placed under control of the subscriber in answering his call by connecting the trunk line. At the subscribers station I provide an impulse transmitter whereby any desired niunber of impulses may besent to affect said switch. The subscriber in making his call sets his transmitter to send the number which will signal an. operator at the diVi sion whei'e the wanted line has its multiple jacks. "The trunk operator puts hin'ron a trunk line, whose selector switch responds to his transmitter by signaling the wanted operator, Who then connects him with the wanted line as in an ordinary system.

My invention is illustrated in the. accompanying drawings, whereme F'gure 1 shows a subscribers station with the transmitting device.

Fig. 2 is a similar diagram showing the subscribers line apparatus at the central otfice and the trunk cord-circuit at the answering These trunks are also-"shown terminating at the different positions in the exchange. Fig. 3 shows the cord-circuit at one of these divisions for completing the call and there is position.

i 1 7 1 J also shown the subscribers lme-circmt apparatus.

Referring now to Fig. 1. It is the subscriber's station equipped with apparatus usual in common battery systems. consisting of transmitter T. receiver ll. hook ll. ringer (Q. condenser 'C. In addition to this i have shown the transmitting device for sending in impulses to the centralvol'lice 'torpiehin g; out the desired division. This apparatus consists o-t the following: a main shaft 1*". on which are mounted the star wheels J. (1, (Z d, (Z d, d, d". J and d. The teeth of these wheels are engaged respectively by the teeth w,;v:,.e etc.. on the push buttons (i, (Z, 1/, (F. (1. d. 1/ 1/ and (1. These buttons when pnlled all the way in meet the various stops 411"". :r. m. 111". a. :0 of, a 0 and 50 These stops are all set atevarious distances in relation to the push buttons. The: first push button 1/ when pushed in, can only go a certain distance. The second push button (5. when pushed in. can go a little farther. and so on up to the last button, which when depressed travels the greatest distance. These buttons when depressed engage the teeth on the wheels which are fixed rigidly to the shaft (Z causing it to turn. It will be sben that the first push button when depressed causes the shaft to rotate but a short distance, while the last button (2 causes it to make a COiIl-v plete revolution or apart of a revolution as is necessary; On this same shaft there is mounted a number-wheel 0 whose pawl (Z engages a ratchet wheel d. When any butt-on is depressed and the shaft revolves, this number-wheel is not allected. but. when the shaft is released by the release magnet 1Z this number Wheel then turns with the shaft and the teeth engage the spring (1 which in turn "engages the spring (1. A. pinion Wheel ti is mounted rigidly on the shaft a? and its teeth engage the arm d, controlled by the release magnet at. There is also mounted on this shaft a wheel (1. having" a groove in which the spring d normally rests. The first movement of the shaftc-aused by the depression oi any button causes this wheel to turn and the spring a by the breaking of thecontacts d and a A ground is also placed on No. 2 side of the line, through the following path: contacts d and (2 wire 74, contacts (1 and d wire 70 to line wire No. 2. The main shaft 5 is normally in the position as shown in the drawing, but when setby any button it is held in its new position until the release the line signal m. One terminal of the line relay M is connected to battery and the other terminal to the line wire No. 2 by the wire 5, contacts n and n of the cut-off relay N. N o. 1 side of the line is grounded through the contacts 12. and 92* of the relay N. The spring j of the jack J is connected to the contact a by the wire3 and the spring j, connected to the contact n? by the wire at. One terminal of the cut-off la S, disconnect relay N is connected to battery and the other terminal connected to j? of the jack J by the wire 7. The trunk circuit consists of the following: trunk plug P, controlling re signal relay S,. cut-ofi' re ay 8, rotary relay S rotary magnet 8 retardation coil L, release magnet \V and the selecting arm Z. The jacks J ,J J etc., and their respective lamps represent various divisions in the exchange. In the transmitting device, Fig. 1, I have shown ten push buttons for picking out any one of ten divisions, while in the drawing, Fig;

2, I have only shown three divisions represented by the jacks J, J 2 and J the other division being omitted controlling relay S is connected to the third conductor 7) of the plug P and it controls the circuit of the lamp .9 through the contacts s, .9 wire 16, contacts 8 and s of the relay S, wire 25 to battery. The contact s is connected to the release magnet W by the wire 15. The contact 8 is connected to battery by the wires 13, 12 and 25 and also to the contact 8 of the relay S by the wire-12. The tip 32 of the plug P'is multipled to the springs j of the jacks J, J 2 and The sleeve p is connected in'niultiple to the springs y" of the jacks J, J and J by the wires 10, 21, 34, 36 and 38. One terminal of the relay S is connected to the contact .9 of the relay S ythe following path: contact 8 wire 19 to contact 8 One terminal of the disconnect lamp 8 is connected to the contact 8 the other terminal beingconnected to the contact .9 of the relay S by the wire 17. One terminal' of the cut-ofi relay is connected to battery, by the wire 23, while the other terminal is connected in multiple to j of the jacks J, J and J, by the wires 32 and 33. 1 One terminal of the relay for'simplicity. The.

this magnet under joint control S is connected to battery by the wires 26 and 24, the other being connected to the sleeve p by the wire 29, contacts a and s of the relay S and wire 10. One terminal of the retardation coil L is connected to battery .by the wires '26 and 2-1, the other being connected to the tip 39 by the wire 22, con' tacts s and s of the relay S and wire 9. One terminal of the magnet s is connected to ground. and the other to the contact .9 of the relay S One terminal of the-release magnet W besides being connected to the contact 8 of the relay S is also connected to the contact 8"" of the relay S" which places ing operator and the connecting operator at one of the divisions. The blade of the switch Z is connected to the contact .9 of the relay S and the individual points e and 2 and m, respectively, by the-wires 42, 41 and -10.

Referring now to Fig. 3, I have shown the connecting operators cord-circuit at one of the divisions and also the central oflice end of the subscribers line. The latter being identical with that shown be described. The cord-circuit consists of supervisory "relays S and S, retardation coils I, 1 the controlling relays S" and S, supervisory lamps 8 and 8 The tip of the plug 1 is connected tot-he tip o the plug 1 by the strand 50, condenser G and strand 52, and the sleeve of the plug P is connected to the sleeve 1) of the plug P by the strand 51, condenser C and strand 53. Onete'rininal of the retardation coil I is connected to. the strand 50 by the wire 54,

the other terminal being connected to bat- I tery bythe wires 64, 61 and 60. One terminal of the relay S is connected to the strand 51 by the wire 55, the other terminal being grounded. One terminal of the retardation coil P is connected to the strand 52 by the wire 56, the other being connected tobattery by the wires 65,61 and '60. One terof the trunk;

are connected to the lamps m in y in Fig. 2, will not tie answering-plug P, calling-plug P a party on a certain division in the exchange depresses his button correspondin to that division. Supposing the party he esires to be connected with 15 located on the third divisiorr of the board.

presses the third button 03. when depressed engages the wheel ll, ca'us ing the shaft to revolve until the button-d 'In this casehe'de- 1 This bacon meets thestop w .-i..The has now revolved a sufficient distance to. cause the spring d to leave the groove and ride on 'the surface ofthe wheelmaking andrbreaking the following. .-connectins: The .release magnet d? is connected to No. -l. side of the line through the contacts. d? and; d and groundisplacedon- No. 2-.side of the .line through the cont-actsriia-andri of the .release "magnet d wiref 74, contacts d iand d wire 70 to N o.'2 side of the line. The shaft (K -is held in the positioncaused by the depressionjof thelbuttond by the arm 05 of --the release magnet d The shaft in revolving does not affect the number-wheel d, as the. ratchet-elgives freely on the pinion wheel (Z when the wheels are set. Vilien the button. was first depressed the con tacts dand d were broken, disconnecting the subscribers talking set. It--will be noticed that the release mag11et-(Z?iscon nected-from No; 1 side of the-line-to ground atthe subscrbers instrument, and thatlto.

1 side of the line is also groundedat-the cen- 'tral office through the contacts -n "and at;

of the cut-off relay N, Fig. 2; this magnet therefore remains deenergized. As before stated, a ground is placed on No.2 side of the line-which closes the circuit of the-line relay M. at'the central. oflice- This relay attracting itsarmature closesthe circuit of the line-lamp m causing it-to glow. The trunking operator perceiving this si sertsth'e trunk plugP into the jack" which. places the windings of-the relaysS and N inseries from ground to battery, -energiz-- ing them and causing th'eir arinatures to be attracted. The' relay N attracting its armatures disconnects the line-relay M which in turn extingui'shes the line lamp m and connects No. 1 and No. 2 side of the line to-the springs j and j, respectively, of the jack 5. The relay S attracting'its armatures closes the circuit of thela'mp 8 causing it to glow, at the same time it closes thecontacts s and is partly com 'ile ting the circuit of the relay S. i The contacts 8 ands arealso-closed,p

' which completes the circuit of the release magnet \V, energizing it, causing its arm-w to engage the shaft Wheel of the switch Zr When the operator: first answered-the call by placing the plug into theja-ck, battery was sent outoYer'No: 1 aided the line through the release magnet (1 at the subscribers stationfbythefollowing path: battery, wires 24, 26,retardation' coil L, wire 22, contacts tracts its armatures,

. and d, disconnecting ground from No. 2

side. of the line.

releasing the shaft It also lifts the arm d, 03 This shaft now un- Ithe magnet 8 nal ,in-

der theinfluence of the spring (Z starts back to its normal position and in revolving carries the ,numbernvheel (Z with it, whose teeth then engage the spring 26 causing it to make. and break contact with the spring d ,according to the number of the teeth engaging it. fWhen the button d was depressed it revolved the shaft against the tension of the spring (Z suliiclentlyto cause the shaft in running back to make the number-wheel d move the space of three teeth. The making and breaking of the contacts (13 and d affects the relay S in Fig. 2. This relay being actuated a number of tunes corresponding to the making and breaking'of contacts 01 and d causes it to attract its armature, closing the contacts s and 8 closingthe circuit of This magnet being ener-' gized, and then deenergi'zed according to the :number or division of the board wanted, rmoves ltS armature back and forth, actuating. the pawl .w" which engages the wheel .2

and-thereby. operates the switch Z, causing the arm a to rotate and make connection.

with the individual contacts. In this case 7 as No. 3 division is wanted thearm 2 comes to rest on the contact 2 causing the signal lamp mi to glow. The circuit of this signal is completed by, the following path: battery,

wire 24, contacts a", s of the relay wire 27 e, a, wireil0 ,signal 7m. to ground. The operator at theccnnecting position, Fig. 3, receiving the signal inserts. the answeringplu -'P. into the jack J of her division,

-whichplaces the relay S", Fig. 3, in series With t-he relay- S, Fig. 2, by the following path: ground, S, Wir,e 58, p j ,wires 33 and 62, S to battery. Both of these relays now become. energized. and attract their armatures qThe relay S attracting its arma- -tures,-brcaks thecontacts s and s, disconnecting the relay S from the sleeve 30 of the plug P. lt'also breaks tire cont-acts s and s disconnecting the retardation coil L from the tip 2 of the plug P. The contacts a, s ?"v and 3" are broken, disconnecting the switch Z and extinguishing the signal lamp m and also opening the wire 17 leading to the lamp s At this time the circuit ofthe relay 8 is completed through the closing of the contacts 8 and s and becoming energized attracts its armatures and locks itself throughthe contacts 3 and s". It also opens the contacts 8 and-8 extinguishing the lamp siand notifylng the trunking operator, that the operator at one of the divisionsahasanswered the call. The contacts 3" and s. are alsoclosed, forming part of the circuit-of the lamp 8". After the shaft in the subscribers transmitting device has returned to its normal position under the in fluence of the spring cl, the contacts d and cl are closed, and connect the subscribers talking set across the line.

Referring again to Fig. 3, the operator upon inserting the answering plug P asks for the'number in the usual manner and places the calling plug P into the jack of the line desired. This insertion places the relay 8* and the relay N in series energizing them. The relay N in attracting its armatures disconnects the line'relay M and connects the line wires 1 and 2 to the springs 1' and j of the jack J. The relay S in attracting its armature closes the circuit of the lamp- 8 which glows and continues to glow until the called subscriber answers. When the called subscriber answers he closes the circuit of the relay S, which attracting its armature opens the contacts 8 and a, extinguishing the'lamp 8 notifying the operator that the call is answered. At the end oft-he conversation the relay S is de'e'nergized, causing the lamp 8 to glow the second time, notifying the operator that the called subscriber has hung up his telephone, and the calling subscriber in hanging .up his telephone deenergizes'the relay S ,"causing the lamp 8 to glow. The operator now knows conversation is finished. Upon withdrawing the calling plug P the relays S and N are deenergized and the line relay M is again placed across the line terminals ready fora'nother call. The relay S becoming deenergized, extinguishes the lamp 8 Upon withdrawing the answering plug P, the relay S becomes deenergized, extinguishing the lamp 8 and the relay S becomes deenergized and its armatures fall back. The relay S is again connected to the sleeve 7) of the plug P and the retardation coil L is connected to tip 7) of the plug P. The contacts .9" and a, now being closed, the circuit of the lamp 8 is completed, notifying the operator that the connecting operator has taken down the connection and that the call is finished. She

. at once withdraws the plug P from the calling subscribers line and denergizes the re. lays S and N The relay N becoming de-- energized the relay M is again connected to the line. The relay S becoming deenergized opens the contacts 8' and s deenerglzing whosearm w now leaves the toothe the'relay S, which opens the contacts 8 and s, extinguishing the lamp 8 The'contacts s and 8* of the relay S are also broken, which opens the circuit of the release ma et W wheel 2 and releases the switch Z, allowing it to return to its normal or starting position. It will be noticed that the operator who first answers the call is provided with two supervisory lamps which give her complete supervision over the connection. By means of the lam at one o the divisions has answered t e call,

wand by means of the lamp 8 she can tell when the conversation is completed. Both operators have control of the release magnet W which will not become deenergized to a she can tell when the o orator.

release the switch Z until both operators have withdrawn their plugs. This provides for any contingency, such as one operator taking down the connection by mistake, the magnet in thiscase being held energized by the other operator.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In a' telephone exchange system, subs scribers lines-terminating ata central ofiice on single answering terminals and multiple 'connecting terminals, the latter being distributed among differentdivisions of the exchange, and no one line having terminals in all the divisions thereof; operatorsf trunk circuits adapted to be connected to the answering terminal in response to a call, a driven switch, in each trunk circuit, a plurality-of branch circuits leading from each driven switch to answering terminals in'the different divisions of the exchange, a signaling means associated with each branch. means at the subscribers station for first indicating a call and thereafter for controlling said driven switch toset the signal at any desired division, and answering and connecting means adapted to cooperate with the trunk answering terminals in each division substantially as described.

2. In a telephone exchange system, a" switchboard having a pluralit of divisions; and subscribers lines with mu tlple jacks in the several divisions, each line appearing upon the several sections of one division only, an answering jack and signal 'for each line, a trunk line or lines extending from each answering position in parallel to answering jacks upon the several multiple divisions, a signal associated with each of the trunk answeringjacks, all the signals of the same trunk'being connected to a s9- lective device at ;the answering position; and means at the subscribers station to operate said selective device when connection.

is made'with his line, so as to call directly the operator having control of that answering jack of his trunk, which lies upon the division where the line wanted has its multiple jacks, substantially as described.

3. In a telephone exchange system, a subscribers station connected by a line to an answer-ing jack and signal device at a central office switchboard, a main switchboard carrying multiple terminals of subscribers lines and divided into several parts, each appropriated to a particular group of lines appearing there and nowhere else, a trunk circuit with terminal plug extending from an answering position to multiple answer ing jacks at all of the multiple divisions, asignal for each trunk answering jack, connections from said signals to terminals of a selective switch, a-wiper terminal for each switch cooperating with said signal terminals', and an impulse transmitter at the subscribeus station for actuating said switch I as predetermined by the subscriber to select and actuate the signal of the trunk connected with his line, which appears upon the same multiple division as the line of the wanted subscriber, substantially as de-- scribed.

4. In a telephone exchange system, a subscrib'er s station and a central station, an im-. pulse transmitter at the former, and a terminal jack and signal for the line-at the latter, means whereby the subscriber may set a number and at the same time display his line signal, an answering operators cord circuit cooperating with the jack, a switchboard containing multiple jacks of all subscribers lines but divided into several parts each appropriated to and containing the multiple jacks of a certain group ofsubscribers only, a trunk line extending from the answering operators cord circuit to all ofthe said multiple board divisions and connected in each to an answering jack, a source of current. supplyconnected to the open ators cord and supplying current therethrough to the subscribers line for signaling andtalking purposes, a step-by-step selector switch, .a controlling magnet and a release magnet therefor, and controlling relays, together with supervisory and clear ing out signals associated with the cord, a signal associated with each trunk jack in the multiple divisions, connections from the several signals to the co-rdselector switch, and operators cord circuits with battery supply and supervisory signals, at the several multiple positions, the whole so arranged and operating that a subscriber calling is first connected to. a trunk line, then by the operation of his transmitter calls the operator atthat division where the line wanted has its jacks, and is there answered and connected as in an ordinary direct system, substantially as described. a In a telephone system, a subscribers station and line and a central source of cur- Copies of this patent may be obtained for rent supply grounded on one side and normally connected across the line in ,one direction, a selective transmitter at the substation, and a magnet controlling the same, means actuated in setting the signal to connect the controlling magnet between the dead or grounded side of line and the ground, whereby the magnet will not be energized, together with means actuated in making connection with the line at the central oflice to reverse the battery to line, substantially as described.

6. In a telephone exchange system, a switchboard having a plurality of divisions and subscribers lines with multiple jacks in the several divisions, an answering jack-and signal for each line, a trunk line provided with a plug at one end and terminating at the other end in a series of answering jacks multipled in the different divisions, operators cord circuits at the different divisions, a selective-device, and means at the subscribers station to operate said selective de vice when connection is made with his line to indicate connection of the trunk with a cord circuit at a desired division.

7.111 a telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, answering terminals for said lines, a trunk circuit provided. with a connecting plug at one end and terminating at the other end in a series of answering jacks multipled in different divisions, a trunk signal and operators .cord circuits at each division, a selective device in the trunk circuit adapted to be operated from the calling subscribers station to actuate a desired signal, and means controlled jointly by the trunk operator and theanswering operator for restoring the selective device to its normal condition.

8. In a telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, answering terminals for said lines at the exchange, a trunk circuit provided with a connecting plug at one end and terminating at the other end in a series olI answering jacks multipled in ditlerent divisions, a trunk signal and-operators cord circuits ateach division, a selective switch in the trunk circuit, a selective impulse transmitter atthe calling subscribers station adapted to operate a desired signal to indicate connection of the trunk with a desired cord circuit, and means controlled jointly by the trunk operator and the answering operator for restoring said switch to its normal position.

9. In a telephone exchange system, subscribers lines, answering terminals for said lines at the exchange, associated line signals therefor, a trunk circuit provided with a connecting plug at one end and terminating at the other end in a series of answering jecks multipled in different divisions, a signal associated with each of said trunk answering jacks, operators-cord circuits at each division, a selective switch in each trunk circuit, a selective impulse transmitter at the callin subscribcrs station adapted to operate sai switch to actuate any desired signal of the trunk connected with his line, and means to restore said selective switch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD E. CLEMENT.

\Vitnesses:

II. M. STERLING, JAMES H. Mann.

waslihi gton, D. 0. 

